How to Negotiate With the Kaska Tribal Council

The Kaska First Nations people are indigenous to the Northwest Territories, British Columbia and the Yukon.

The Kaska Dena Nation is a tribal group indigenous to the southeast Yukon, southern Northwest Territories and northwestern British Columbia in Canada. As First Nations peoples, they have occupied the region for tens of thousands of years. Due to the laws of Canada, however, the group is now divided into five separate bands. As an indigenous nation of Canada, the bands also exist within multiple jurisdictions and governing systems. Negotiations with the Kaska occur regarding treaty rights, economic development, resource management and other tribal business. Advanced preparation is important for the successful conduct of talks.

Instructions

1. Study Kaska history, political structure and culture. Negotiating with any indigenous group requires a deep understanding of their unique circumstances as autonomous political entities and the utmost cultural sensitivity. First Nations people are still living under conditions that were imposed upon them which makes for complex emotions and processes. Understand traditional protocols for making requests and be prepared to use them.

2. Obtain permission from your institutional review board if you are conducting research on the community through a university. IRB approval can take weeks or months, so plan well in advance.

3. Identify which band you will have to negotiate with. The bands are the Dease River First Nation at Good Hope Lake, the Daylu Dena Council at Lower Post and the Kwadacha First Nation at Fort Ware, north of Prince George, British Columbia. Inquire as to whether protocols differ between the bands.

4. Develop a well thought out plan for your negotiations. Be clear about your goals and objectives. Also, come armed with as much information as you can regarding Canadian law, provincial law and tribal law. You will likely have to negotiate between all three jurisdictions -- and possibly others -- depending upon your project or objective.

5. Contact the tribal office to find out what the appropriate channels of communication are. You may first have to address the tribal council before you address the negotiators. Depending on the reason for your negotiations, you may even have to consult with spiritual leaders. Be prepared for the possibility of multiple levels of negotiations.

References

• Kaska Dena Council: Our History
• Kaska Dena Council: Kaska Negotiators
• Kaska Culture and History